The Protective Polyphenol

Polyphenol antioxidants are a particular type of plant nutrient naturally found in fruits, vegetables and plant-derived beverages such as tea, coffee, red wine and our personal favorite, grape juice.

Welch's 100% Grape Juice has higher antioxidant power per serving than other popular 100% fruit juices – more than twice as high as orange juice.¹ Welch's 100% Grape Juice made from Concord grapes is a great complement to whole fruits and vegetables, and is a delicious and convenient way to consume more fruit, and in particular, more purple fruit, as part of a balanced diet.

Preliminary research suggests that 100% grape juice made from Concord grapes:

Helps protect cardiovascular health.

Helps control the way bad cholesterol may lead to damaging the arteries. Studies have shown that the polyphenol antioxidants in Concord grape juice may help slow the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol, in the arteries – which may help minimize damaging effects – allowing blood to flow where it's needed and promoting healthy, clear arteries.^2,3,4

Encourages flexible arteries. A recent study showed that Concord grape juice works in a similar fashion to red wine in stimulating nitric oxide production in the lining of the arteries - important for greater blood vessel flexibility. ⁵

Contributes to healthy blood pressure. Because of its positive effect on arterial health, many researchers believe that drinking Concord grape juice contributes to healthy blood pressure. In fact, two preliminary studies showed a reduction in blood pressure in hypertensive patients. ^6,7

Contributes to a healthy immune system.

Polyphenol antioxidants and vitamin C help protect the body against free radicals that can damage healthy cells and may weaken the immune system. Welch's 100% Grape Juice is abundant in the antioxidant vitamin C, an essential nutrient which helps promote a healthy immune system. In addition, new research found that healthy participants who drank Welch's 100% Grape Juice daily showed a significant increase in a specific type of immune cell -- the gamma delta T-cell -- that can help ready the immune system to protect against potential invaders. ⁸ Gamma delta T-cells play an important role in immune surveillance to detect potential pathogens and alert the immune system that a response is necessary.

Exploring New Areas of Research

Emerging research suggests that what is good for the heart may also be good for the mind. A recent pilot study found that drinking Concord grape juice may provide benefit for older adults with early memory decline, and this indicates there is potential for Concord grape juice to support healthy brain function in older adults with early memory changes. ⁹ This work supports previous scientific studies that appear to indicate that a diet rich in antioxidants, such as those found in fruits, vegetables and their juices, may help slow and possibly even reverse age-related cognitive decline. ¹⁰

References:

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods – 2007. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=15866. 2007. (Accessed: Nov. 30, 2007). The USDA ORAC database reports antioxidant power per 100 grams - for this comparison the study values have been converted to values per 8 oz. serving size for the beverages.
2. Stein JH, Keevil JG, Wiebe DA, Aeschlimann S and Folts JD. Purple grape juice improves endothelial function and reduces the susceptibility of LDL cholesterol to oxidation in patients with coronary artery disease. Circulation. 1999. 100(10):1050-1055.
3. O'Byrne DJ, Devaraj, S. Grundy, SM. Jialal, I. Comparison of the antioxidant effects of Concord grape juice flavonoids and tocopherol on markers of oxidative stress in healthy adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002. 76:1367-1374.
4. Vinson JA, Yang J, Proch J and Liang X. Grape juice, but not orange juice, has in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo antioxdant properties. J Med Food. 2000. 3(4):167-171.
5. Anselm E, Chataigneau M, Ndiaye M, Chataigneau T and Schini-Kerth VB. Grape juice causes endothelium-dependent relaxation via a redox-sensitive Src- and Akt-dependent activation of eNOS. Cardiovasc Res. 2007. 73(2):404-413.
6. Park YK, Kim J-S and Kang M-H. Concord grape juice supplementation reduces blood pressure in Korean hypertensive men: double-blind, placebo controlled intervention trial. Biofactors. 2004. 22(1-4):145-147.
7. Mark DA and Maki K. Concord grape juice reduces blood pressure in men with high systolic blood pressure. 2003. Presented at Experimental Biology 2003. April 11-15. San Diego, CA.
8. Nantz MP, Rowe CA, Nieves C and Percival SS. Bioactive compounds from Concord grapes prime γδ T cells and reduce DNA strand breaks. Presented at Experimental Biology 2008. San Diego, CA. April 5-9, 2008.
9. Krikorian R, Nash TA, Shidler MD, Shukitt-Hale B and Joseph JA. Concord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Br J Nutr. 2010. 103: 730–734.
10. Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, and Casadesus G. Reversing the deleterious effects of aging on neuronal communication and behavior: beneficial properties of fruit polyphenolic compounds. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005. 81(suppl):313S-6S.
11. Produce For Better Health Foundation. State of the Plate Study on America's Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables. Wilmington, Delaware. 2003.